Meet the first woman to travel all 196 countries of the world

27-year-old Cassandra De Pecol from Connecticut, America has set a new world record after becoming the first woman to visit all 196 countries of the world in an Expedition196, which she started in July, 2016 with the Pacific island of Palau.

De Pecol traveled as an Ambassador for Peace on behalf of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism with the purpose of promoting peace by meeting people from every country in the world and encouraging sustainability as she also aimed to break the Guinness World Record for fastest person to travel to all Sovereign Nations. Her ambitious trip which cost about $200,000 was funded through the help of several sponsors.

 

With the feat, she broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest person to travel to all Sovereign States (plus an additional 11 countries) and became the first and fastest woman to travel to all 196 countries of the world in a record 18 months and 26 days.

During her time around the world, she spoke with more than 16,000 students about sustainability, economics and more.

“As a young woman, I’d always dreamed to travel to as many countries as possible and make our world a better place,” De Pecol wrote on her website. “It bothered me though, that I could never figure out how to ignite this inner fire and make it happen.”

“The initial goal of traveling to every single country is not nearly as meaningful as was at the start. Looking into the eyes of the youth and hearing them realize their potential and limitless possibilities through listening to me speak — this is what I live for.”

Apart from experiencing beautiful cultures and sceneries, De Pecol also encountered and wrote about the harsh realities people from other countries face on the daily basis.

“To be honest, I’m trying desperately to focus on the good, but sometimes I find that I have to just let the mental challenge of it all run its course,” De Pecol wrote on her Instagram account.   

“I’m sure that many of you can relate to the feelings that I have; the nightmares and the sadness when it comes to seeing and experiencing certain things that are very challenging to comprehend. That being war, famine, harassment, unfairness, brutality, etc.”

She hopes to continues to explore the rest of the world with open eyes.

“I look forward to also sharing the more somber of times, hoping that we can cultivate positive change as a result.”